CARE NEWS SUMMER 2022
Memory Tree unveiled
Anniversary Supplement
Tonnes of Care
Inside this issue...
IN THIS EDITION Page 2 Muddy Mayhem Page 3 Memory Tree unveiled Page 4 Janet’s story Page 5 Paramedics join Isabel Page 6 Living Well returns to Stortford Page 7 LGBTQ+ Champion Page 8 Sustainable and stunning Page 9 Tonnes of Care
Muddy Mayhem dishes the dirt There was mud, marvellous mud, by the gallon when people of all ages took part in our Muddy Mayhem family fundraiser back in March. More than 600 adults and children slipped, slid and scrambled over a fun but challenging 5km obstacle course at our event jointly hosted with Garden House Hospice Care. The event raised more than £37,000, helping both hospices continue providing expert, compassionate care free of charge to those who need it.
Page 10 Inspiring Herts Award Page 11 Fountain to Fountain Hike
From all of us at Isabel, thank you for your incredible support. 2
Privacy policy update At Isabel Hospice, we respect your privacy. Effective as of 16th May 2022, we have made some changes to our privacy notice so that it is easier for you to understand the information we collect, use and share across the Hospice, as well as providing you with more options for how we handle your data. For more information about the changes made, please visit isabelhospice.org.uk/privacy.
Welcome to the latest edition of Care News The support provided by Isabel Hospice goes beyond end-of-life care; we are here for families affected by a lifelimiting illness from diagnosis onwards, offering support both here at the Hospice and out in our community. Over the past four decades, it has been our privilege to care for many, many people. As we celebrate our 40th anniversary year, and the difference we have been able to make to
those who need our care, we also acknowledge the work that still needs to be done to continue reaching out to every person who could benefit from our life-changing care. We simply could not do this without your support. Whether you have been by our side from the beginning, or are relatively new to our cause, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Together, we can care long into the future.
With warmest wishes
CEO, Isabel Hospice
New Memory Tree unveiled A woman who married her partner of more than 40 years at Isabel Hospice is among the first to have her name inscribed on Isabel Hospice’s newly installed Memory Tree. Jacqueline Sinclair died peacefully in her sleep the day after she wed her long-term partner, Brian, during a ceremony held in the Hospice’s lounge, surrounded by 30 of the couple’s closest family and friends. Her name is now inscribed on one of the 450 bronze, silver and gold leaves that feature upon the recently unveiled rowan tree, as a lasting tribute to the much-missed wife, mother and grandmother. One of the new copper-toned robins has also been dedicated in Jacqueline’s memory.
for people to remember their loved ones in a very special way, while helping us to continue providing vital support to other families who need our specialist care. Its installation has been kindly funded by three local supporters and features a central dedication to the Hospice’s founder, Isabel Last. Three types of leaf, along with the beautiful copper robins, are available for a suggested donation to our charity. To make a dedication, email Lisa Tansley at lisa.tansley@isabelhospice.org.uk, or you can call her on 01707 382500, option 4.
Jacqueline’s daughters, Tracey and Karen, intend to renew the leaf every year on their mother’s birthday in honour of their beloved mum, who died in November 2019. Tracey said: “Even though Mum’s gone, we still want to get her a present on her birthday, so the Memory Tree is our way of being able to do that for her as well as saying thank you to the Hospice for taking such good care of her in those final days.” Our new Memory Tree, at the heart of our main Hospice building, provides the opportunity 3
“Most people think the Hospice is the last resort. It’s where people go to die. That was my thought, but goodness me how wrong was I. “Gail explained that it wasn’t about giving up, or admitting defeat, but learning to make the very best use of the very last second we have together. It was such a positive message.”
I was able to meet other people in the same position as myself.
Janet was invited to attend our eight-week Living Well with Isabel wellbeing course as well as have a course of complementary therapy.
Janet’s story Receiving the news that you have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness does not mean you cannot still live your life to its full potential. Janet Howe turned to the Hospice after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in June 2021. At the time she reached out to us, the 74-year-old said she had sunk into a very dark place, but the Hospice’s support has been transformative. “Immediately after I was given the diagnosis, it was like the lights went out,” she said. “I was told I had about three months to live and then I disappeared into the [NHS] system and heard nothing for 10 weeks. “All I knew was my case was being passed from one team to another and I didn’t understand why. I felt really unwanted. “It was honestly the worst time of my life. I tried desperately hard to be strong, to think about the future, but I didn’t know where to turn. Then, out of the blue, I decided to ring Isabel Hospice.” Janet spoke to one of our Clinical Nurse Specialists, who visited her at home to speak to her and husband, Mike, about what had been happening.
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“First of all, I was able to meet other people in the same position as myself. And far from feeling sorry for ourselves we had a chat and a laugh. It started to feel like normal life again and made me realise this is what I wanted. “My life has been a really happy, joyful one and I didn’t want it to end in this shadow. The Hospice showed me I still had a life to live, I still had something to give and I could create something new even at this stage of my life. “It really has been life-changing and I’m so thankful for that. I live in a village and it’s given me the confidence to widen my social circle and make new friends. “I’ve started a knitting group on a Monday morning at our local pub, where very little knitting gets done because we’re too busy having such outrageous fun.
It really has been lifechanging and I’m so thankful for that.
“None of that would have happened if it weren’t for Isabel Hospice shining a light in a very dark place. They’ve shown me there is still fun to be had and gave me the support I needed to get back out there and start enjoying life again.
“The cancer rarely gets a thought these days; it’s not on my mind because other things have replaced it. I’m too busy living my life. Every day presents an opportunity and I’m determined to seize it.”
Paramedics join Nursing Team Andrew was the first of three paramedics to join Isabel Hospice as part of a new staffing initiative launched in November 2021 to bring our services back to full capacity following the pandemic. As professionals, paramedics are highly trained, with similar levels of expertise to registered nurses, and, due to the nature of their role, are a particularly good fit with the rapid response nature of our Hospice at Home service. “I joined the Hospice following two and a half years working for the London Ambulance Service. I also work for the NHS 111 service as a clinical advisor and consultation clinician, so bring a wealth of triage assessment experience.
“It has been amazing to be able to be part of a team providing holistic care. We look at the patient as a whole person and then all of the different professionals contribute what we can, to allow them to make the most of their life. It’s lovely to know that I am helping patients achieve their goals and have time to see how something as simple as a well-timed conversation can make all the difference to how someone is feeling.” Following his IPU training, Andrew has now transitioned to his role in rapid response with the Hospice at Home team, working alongside lead nurse Lea van der Niet to visit patients across eastern Hertfordshire. He also works closely with our Living Well with Isabel team and Clinical Nurse Specialists and responds to calls to our 24-hour advice line. In February, Andrew was joined by two additional paramedics in their role as Clinical Paramedic Specialists, using their skills and experience in an advisory capacity within the Community Team.
“For the first two months, I completed an indepth training programme with our clinicians and nurses on our In-Patient Unit, allowing myself to be fully immersed in the end-of-life care environment. I worked both early and late shifts, learning about every aspect of palliative care by shadowing my colleagues to gain practical, hands-on experience across all areas of our IPU service, including the use of syringe drivers and medicine management. My tasks included personal care, managing referrals, learning about medication administration and general nursing care. “I was also involved in multi-disciplinary team meetings alongside our doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and complementary therapists to discuss patients’ individual needs and care.
Our three new paramedics are generously funded by a number of local individuals, Trusts and Foundations.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT:
Andrew Shaw Paramedic
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Living Well returns to Stortford Our face-to-face Living Well with Isabel programme has resumed in Bishop’s Stortford – two years after our services had to be moved online because of the pandemic. Our services are now held at the newly renovated Bishop’s Stortford Methodist Church in South Street; an ideal town centre location that will help us raise awareness of the Hospice in the area.
Wellbeing Course – Six weekly sessions from 10am to 1pm in the Wesley Hall. Our wellbeing course is specifically designed for people who are newly diagnosed, or
those with a change in condition. Sessions are led by a nurse with the aim of enhancing physical, psychological, emotional and social wellbeing. This includes discussions on symptom management, practical issues, maintaining independence and advance care planning. Activities include seated exercise, adapted Tai Chi and relaxation alongside a wellbeing therapy such as horticulture or creative crafts.
Compassionate Café – every Wednesday from 10.30am to 12.30pm in the Oasis Lounge We have also taken the opportunity to expand our Compassionate Neighbours befriending initiative by launching the town’s first Compassionate Café.
Write your Will for free Leaving a gift to Isabel Hospice in your Will is a very special way to ensure families facing the toughest of times get the support they need – and now you can do it for free. We have partnered with Guardian Angel to offer a free Will writing service for people who are considering leaving a gift to our charity to make a Will, or update an existing one. There are two main types of gift you can leave: • A fixed amount (pecuniary gift), which can be any sum of money depending on your financial circumstances • A percentage of your estate (residuary gift), which remains after other amounts of money or property are given to others Leaving a gift in your Will is a powerful way to honour a cause that was important to you during your lifetime. However big or small, any amount you choose to give to the Hospice will make a real difference to the lives of those who need our care now and in the future. For more information on making or updating a Will free of charge, see isabelhospice.org.uk/legacy. 6
The café is open to all – this includes the general public, as well as patients following their episode of care with the Living Well team, our bereavement services or referred via Compassionate Neighbours. Our Compassionate Neighbours will be on hand for a friendly chat over a cup of tea and a cake to anyone feeling lonely or experiencing social isolation.
Start the conversation Why do we find dying so hard to talk about? All of us will experience death at some point in our lives, and while talking about it might be uncomfortable or upsetting, experience shows that having conversations about these subjects can help us prepare practically and emotionally. If you would like to Start the Conversation and start thinking, talking, sharing and writing down what is important to you, why not join us at our next free workshop on Friday 10th June at 10.30am. You can find more details at starttheconversationtoday.org.uk.
Children in Need grant The importance of our work supporting bereaved children has again been recognised by Children in Need. The charity has awarded us a new grant of £39,070 to help fund our Children and Teenagers Support (CATS) service and help to cover the cost of face-toface and online counselling, youth groups, art and music therapy, mindfulness sessions and more for the next 12 months. Our Children’s Service co-ordinator, Buddhika Arachchige, said the team strives to offer safe and comfortable spaces for children and their grown-ups to express their feelings of loss and grief in a supported way. “The positive impact of the Children’s Service on the local community over the past few years has been well commended by the families and schools that we have supported,” Buddhika said. “We are delighted that Children in Need have once again recognised the importance of our work by awarding this substantial grant.”
Dr Beth’s new role We are delighted to announce that Dr Beth Williams has been appointed our new Specialist Doctor and Medical Lead within our clinical team. A new role operating at consultant level, Beth will be providing senior support to those staying with us in our In-Patient Unit as well as our patients out in the community. Beth, who has worked at Isabel Hospice for almost nine years, said: “I’m so thrilled and humbled to have been appointed to this role. Isabel Hospice, and all the people who work for the Hospice, are so close to my heart. I’m excited to continue the good work.”
LGBTQ+ Champion At Isabel Hospice, we passionately believe everyone has a right to hospice care. But we also know that far too many barriers still exist that prevent people from receiving the specialist care that every person deserves when facing the end of life. Our Acting Director of Clinical Services, Andy Kilduff, recently took on the role of our LGBTQ+ Champion to help us start bridging the gaps when it comes to accessing the vital support we provide for people with life-limiting conditions, and those who care for them. Andy said: “Our skilled, compassionate care is available to all. My role as Isabel’s LGBTQ+ Champion not only recognises the diversity within our workforce, volunteer base and the community we serve, but will also ensure no one encounters discrimination or lack of understanding at a time when they most need acceptance and support.” Last year, Lee Spithray’s husband, Mark, spent eight days in our In-Patient Unit before his death from stomach cancer. You can read their full story here: isabelhospice.org.uk/stories/mark-and-lees-story. 7
Sustainable and stunning We were blown away by the creativity of students from Hertford Regional College when they staged a fashion show featuring designs made from upcycled donations from our charity shops. Isabel staff and trustees were invited to sit on the front row as the students paraded down the catwalk to showcase outfits made from fabric and materials from unsellable clothing donations. Themes included Alice in Wonderland, Sustainability in Denim and 80s Skirts. Every outfit was then listed for sale on our eBay shop to not only promote circular fashion and sustainability, but to also raise funds for our vital care. Thank you to all the college staff and students involved for putting on such a fantastic show.
Hip hip hooray for Hatfield and Stortford Happy birthday to our shops in Bishop’s Stortford and Hatfield, which have celebrated 30 and 25 years of trading, respectively. Together, they have generated hundreds of thousands of pounds towards our care over the years thanks to the generosity of those who regularly donate good-quality pre-loved items for us to sell. Our Head of Retail, Charlotte Greenwood, said: “We are so grateful to every single person who has supported our shops, for every donation and every purchase over so many years. We look forward to many more years of serving our communities in Bishop’s Stortford and Hatfield.” Our Hatfield shop recently underwent a refurbishment to improve the shopper experience, so why not pop in and see the transformation for yourself. Our shop manager, Lucie, and her team would love to see you.
range Did you know our Bishop’s Stortford and Hoddesdon shops now stock the award-winning Faith in Nature range of naturally sourced hair and body products? We have also introduced a refilling station so you can shop more sustainably by reusing your bottles over and over again. You can refill, return and repeat for just £1 per 100ml. 8
Are you a conscientious consumer or a responsible business? From T-shirts to designer coats, and vintage vinyl albums to working mobile phones, pledge to become a regular supporter and have Isabel Hospice sell your donations to pay for the lifechanging care local families need. We launched our new five-year sustainability initiative to save 25,000 tonnes from landfill by 2027 on Earth Day 2022, the worldwide movement to drive positive action for the planet, with the simple aim of turning your unused and unwanted items into nursing hours. By pledging your regular support, you can lessen your environmental impact, make a positive difference to the lives of people in your community and help us generate the essential income we need to raise each and every year to fund our specialist care and support. Our CEO, Helen Glenister, said: “With conversations around climate change on the rise, more and more people are moving towards living a sustainable lifestyle. Yet, every year, tonnes of clothing and other items that are in perfectly good condition are discarded and end up in landfill for no good reason.
If you are decluttering, it is really easy to donate your items to us. Simply drop them at:
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Your nearest Isabel Hospice shop – during opening hours
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Our donation centre in Welwyn Garden City, which is open Monday to Saturday
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One of our regular donation days at locations across the area
As a business, you could ask your employees, suppliers and customers to donate pre-loved items or end-of-line stock. Or why not nominate your venue as one of our monthly donation points and invite your staff and the public to drop off their unwanted goods. You could even request donation boxes for your office or facilities, for us to pick up when full. To find out more about how you can get involved with Tonnes of Care, visit isabelhospice.org.uk/toc to pledge your support.
“Our 15 charity shops, and our eBay, Vinted and Depop stores, offer a sustainable and ethical option for people wishing to dispose of unwanted clothes, books, electricals and household items. Selling these helps create a circular economy by providing pre-loved items to conscientious consumers and those who value quality products at reasonable prices. This all comes together to fund our work, turning your donations into valuable nursing hours for people who are facing the end of life, or experiencing bereavement.” 9
Call for more volunteers Come and find out how you could help change the lives of the people who need our specialist care at our next Volunteer Information Session. Our volunteer engagement lead, Caroline Baynes, said: “Our Volunteer Information Session on July 8th is an opportunity to find out about the variety of roles available and the many rewards of giving some of your free time to support a good cause in your community. “People of all ages and abilities are welcome to attend as we have roles to suit almost anybody, and no previous experience is necessary.” On the day, you will be able to hear about the many advantages of volunteering from people like Larry Wood, who has been supporting our fundraising and retail teams for 15 years. Larry said: “Whether you give an hour or a day, the Hospice simply could not survive without people like me and the many other volunteers who give their time to support its work.” The Volunteer Information Session takes place at our Living Well with Isabel Community Hub in Hall Grove, Welwyn Garden City and starts at 3pm.
For more information, please email volunteer.office@ isabelhospice.org.uk, or call 01707 382500, option 5.
Prince’s Trust Garden A group of green-fingered volunteers who helped transform the garden at our In-Patient Unit recently returned to see it in full bloom. We were very pleased to welcome back Team 19 from The Prince’s Trust, who spent six days with us at the end of last year planting fresh flower beds and hanging baskets as part of a 12-week programme spearheaded by Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service to get youths back into education, training or employment.
Inspiring Herts Award Compassionate Neighbours has been shortlisted for an Inspiring Hertfordshire Award – and has celebrated training their 200th Neighbour! Over the past two years, our initiative has evolved to broaden its reach and support more people of all ages who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation. Project co-ordinator Kharlie Staves said: “As our services began to resume following the easing of lockdown restrictions, we quickly saw an increased demand for our Compassionate Neighbours project and over the last 12 months, it has continued to diversify to not only support typical hospice patients but anyone over the age of 18. 10
“In addition to this, we now partner with other organisations to run 15 social groups to encourage broader connections and more sustainable relationships than those involved in our traditional one-to-one matches.” Kharlie said the creation of social meet-ups has allowed individuals to find their place, whatever their situation, offering a space where people can feel a sense of belonging and, in time, gain the confidence to develop themselves and contribute to the wider community. The Inspiring Hertfordshire Award winners will be announced on June 9th.
Fountain to Fountain Hike Fountain to Fountain returns for the second year, on 25th June – and entry is now open! We are once again partnering with our friends over at Garden House Hospice Care to stage our 16-mile walking challenge linking our two garden cities.
which together cover a combined population of half a million people.
Setting off from Letchworth’s landmark Broadway Gardens, the picturesque rural route crosses the Hertfordshire countryside before finishing at Welwyn’s iconic Coronation Fountain in Parkway.
Our fundraiser, Lindsay Hunter, said: “Whether you are walking in memory of a loved one, or simply for the enjoyment or a challenge, we look forward to seeing you for what is set to be a wonderful day’s walking with friends, family and loved ones.”
Last year, 170 people from across north and east Hertfordshire took part in our inaugural event, helping to raise £25,000 for our two hospices,
You can sign up at isabelhospiceorg.uk/events/ fountainhike or call the Isabel fundraising team on 01707 382500 for more information.
WE NEED YOU!
Could you help out as a member of our welcome team or as a route marshal on the day? We need volunteers from midday until 6pm to help us deliver our event. If you would like to join our volunteer team, please email lindsay.hunter@isabelhospice.org.uk.
THANK YOU to our donors...
Digswell Park Sports Association A huge thank you to hospitality manager Hazel Phillips and the committee for their continued support. Their fantastic George Michael Tribute Event raised an incredible £4,102, helping to brighten up what was a very wet and miserable afternoon!
The Cole family Thank you to the amazing Cole family and friends for all the hard work they put into organising their annual John Cole Darts Tournament in memory of a very dear and much-missed husband and father. Over the years, they have raised more than £8,500 for the Hospice.
Aurora (formerly Corona Corporate Solutions) We were delighted to receive a cheque for £4,157.79 from Christmas fundraising from the staff at Aurora. The funds were kindly matched by a donation from the company’s chief executive Andy Moffitt.
Cala Homes The team at Cala Homes did us proud at their annual charity golf day, raising £30,000. Since 2015, the company has raised an incredible £95,760 for the Hospice, with this latest donation bringing that total to £125,760.
Hanbury Manor Spa Long-term supporter Linda Wood was the lucky recipient of a relaxing spa day kindly donated by Emma and the team at Hanbury Manor Spa. It was the first prize in our raffle drawn at our 40th anniversary luncheon in April, which raised more than £3,000. 11
ISABEL EVENTS Summer 2022 DATCHWORTH JUBILEE GARDENS
29th May A rare opportunity to visit 11 inspirational private gardens in this beautiful Herts village.
ABBA PARTY NIGHT
11th June Enjoy an evening of fabulous food and entertainment with international tribute act Thank You for the Music.
QUIZ NIGHT
29th June Put on your thinking cap and join our Trusts and Foundations Executive Lisa Bailey for a quiz night to raise funds towards her Kilimanjaro trek.
Autumn 2022 THAMES BRIDGES TREK
10th September Join 2,000 trekkers as we venture 25km across the capital, taking in unrivalled views of the skyline from its best vantage points.
9th October Stunning route through four of London’s Royal Parks.
11th June Enjoy some of England’s finest countryside along this scenic yet challenging walking route.
12th June An evening of the choir’s songs from the past decade, from pop and rock, to folk and musical theatre.
LONDON HALLOWEEN WALK
29th October Join us for a hair-raising hike around some of London’s scary streets and historic haunts.
WINGWALK 2022
11th September Experience an adrenalin rush like no other as you take to the skies strapped to the top of a Boeing Stearman flown by a top-class pilot.
AN EVENING WITH THE YORKSHIRE SHEPHERDESS 15th September Amanda Owen shares the challenges, rewards and realities of her life on the farm in rural North Yorkshire.
GARDEN PARTY
23rd June Stalls and music hosted by David and Suzy Harvey at their home, Wickham Hall.
6th-15th October Be part of a group of intrepid explorers as they conquer Africa’s highest peak.
ROYAL PARKS HALF MARATHON
LAKE DISTRICT CHALLENGE
HERTS & SOUL COMMUNITY CHOIR 10TH (+2) ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
KILIMANJARO 40TH ANNIVERSARY TREK
AUTUMN GOLF DAY
29th September Join us on the green for a day of golfing at Essendon Country Club’s scenic 400acre estate.
You can find details of all of these events and more at
isabelhospice.org.uk/events
Winter 2022 CHRISTMAS AT THE MANOR 16th November Grab some early stocking fillers at our annual festive lunch and fair at the Manor of Groves in Sawbridgeworth.
ISABEL’S SNOW BALL
26th November Celebrate 40 years of Isabel’s remarkable care at our black tie ball at beautiful Tewin Bury Farm.
CAROLS IN THE CHAPEL
14th December Join us in the chapel at Haileybury for an enchanting evening of carols by candlelight followed by festive refreshments.
www.isabelhospice.org.uk Registered Charity Number 1046826